Dear LMU — Letters From Our Readers, Summer 2015

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Immigration
Michael Genovese and Chris Zepeda-Millán, in the winter 2014 issue, have made the claim that unless comprehensive immigration reform takes place, the U.S. will crumble under its mounting debt obligations. But they have not said what they believe to be comprehensive reform, aside from revamping the Visa system. Is comprehensive reform a politically correct term for amnesty, or an open border policy? What do they mean? And didn’t we have amnesty under President Ronald Reagan that legalized approximately 3 million people? Yet we still have massive financial problems. Perhaps comprehensive immigration reform is not the panacea for our broken and over-extended entitlement system that the authors believe it to be.
J.P. Lowry ’04
San Bernardino, California

Thank you, Professors Genovese and Zepeda-Millán, for presenting strong arguments in favor of “greater,” “controlled” long-term immigration policies to address the economic needs of our aging population and for “fair and humane immigration reform” to help normalize the status of the millions of people currently in the U.S. who have either overstayed visas or have arrived in the country without the proper documentation. There is strong agreement among members of both parties and strong support in the U.S. population for the types of immigration reform outlined by Genovese and Zepeda-Millán. Let’s continue to pressure our legislators to respect the torch of democracy and pass legislation that enacts comprehensive immigration reform.
Herbert Medina
Los Angeles

The statements [in the article] are without any logic. They do not even consider the high costs of allowing illegal immigrants into our country.
If this succeeds, then our wonderful country will collapse. It will be the end of the America we know and love.
Leo Legasse ’52
Malibu, California

California Drought
Your Conversation with Prof. Joseph Reichenberger in the winter 2014 issue is the clearest explanation of California’s water issues that I’ve read to date. It’s also devoid of politics, screaming fools and clueless reporters. I remember a few professors back in the “Dark Ages” when I attended LU who were that good; they’re rare. Thank you!
Martin Miller ’67
Thousand Oaks, California

Good Work
I just want to say that I enjoyed the winter 2014 issue very much, especially “Dirt Girl” and “The Face of NPR,” which was especially impressive — keep up the great work! I love to hear stories about amazing alumni like Emma Carrasco ’82.
Jennifer Hubbell ’06
Encino, California

I am a teacher at an alternative school in Gwinnett County, in the Atlanta area. I have been a teacher in Atlanta, New Orleans and Oakland, California. I have to say I am impressed with the intellectual curiosity of LMU Magazine and the intriguing articles presented there: topics ranging from farming in Oregon to arguments in support of immigration reform encourage thinking and depth. Keep doing your excellent work.
Andrew Quinn ’88
Grayson, Georgia

ONLINE

Immigration Video
I am proud of Matthew Campanella ’13 for lifting the veil on the reality of the journey of undocumented workers. His documentary is heartbreaking but very well done. I watched the video “Matthew Campanella ’13 Walks the Migrants’ Path” that expanded on some of the information in the documentary. Mr. Campanella’s compassion shows no bounds. I hope his work can contribute to supporting these immigrants not only by increasing awareness but by effecting legislation that lends protection and respect.
Suzanne (Horton) Ste. Therese ’81
Norwalk, Connecticut

Selma Protests
Regarding “The Catholic Presence in Selma, Alabama, 1965”: Although students in the National Federation of Catholic College Students (NFCCS) in the early 1960s supported the sit-ins and other civil rights actions, the institutional Church represented at that time in the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC) was not so supportive, especially if not calling the shots. The NFCCS leadership was “reprimanded” by the NCWC for sending out a letter requesting action in support of the student sit-ins without getting official permission. How do I know? My husband was the sender of the letter, and I heard about it from NCWC staff once I began working there. “Reprimanded” was known to include contact with the student leaders’ college presidents.
Therese Bruneau Martin ’58
Reston, Virginia

Catholic sisters made an important contribution to civil and human rights. How sad that they had to fight against their own church’s leadership. It seems we see over and over that women religious are in the forefront of the work for justice and peace. Thank goodness for these strong and courageous women.
Joseph Ross ’80
Silver Spring, Maryland

Papal Gifts
Ah, Father Rausch, still imparting words of wisdom in “Christmas Gifts for Francis,”, as you did four decades ago. Thank you. As a university scholar studying the Vatican and Pope Francis’ activities from a business organization perspective, I concur — giving to the Pope Second Vatican Council documents, a “retreat” where group consensus building might occur, and “ethics in action” as seen in a Catholic Worker community makes so much sense. All I could add is a trip to LMU, where I experienced the culture of peace and fellowship and a manifestation of Christ’s teaching in practice. I hope everyone, including Pope Francis, might also experience the same.
Jim Weber ’75
Pittsburgh

Sunken Garden
“How Sunken Garden Got Its Name” taps my first memory of LULA — Loyola University Los Angeles (yeah, I’m that old). It was on Sunday, June 9, 1963. Four days after graduating from high school, I was at Loyola as a Student Worker and stacking white chairs after the graduation ceremony on the lawn portion of the Sunken Garden, with all the rose plants around the perimeter. Great start to the fun college part of my life!
Ed Sherlock ’67
Tucson, Arizona

Regarding the photo [of students in a dingy on a flooded Sunken Garden], I remember the day it was taken. I was walking back to the dorm when I came upon Tom Lauren with a boat and fishing pole. It had been raining for three weeks, and Sunken Garden was a lake. I joined Tom, and we went fishing. Tom is on the right and I am on the left. If memory serves me right, Clay Averbuck is in the middle of the boat. The picture was shot from Malone by someone from the yearbook staff.
Jim Seymour ’72
Sebastopol, California

I am a 1952 graduate of the Loyola University of Los Angeles (forgive the anachronism). I know that we always called the area of which you speak the Sunken Gardens (I think we used the plural form). The emphasis was on the beauty of the campus. An old Jesuit brother, Brother Pereira, took care of the grounds and we knew him. Thanks for the revived memory.
Paul Goda, S.J., ’52
Santa Clara, California

One of the things that attracted me to Loyola University of Los Angeles when I visited in 1966–67 was the beautiful rose garden in the Sunken Garden flanking the steps that led to the chapel. It was very sad to see those roses disappear.
Hank Alviani ’71
Clarion, Pennsylvania

As a follow-up to your story on Sunken Garden, [there] is a picture of me water skiing across Sunken Garden. I believe it was taken in 1979 on a Sunday morning when people were arriving for morning Mass. I had a motorcycle pull me, and we took many pictures. The water was no more than 2 ft. deep. My recollection is that security did not seem to have an issue with it. What fun.
Frank Meredith ’80, Law ’83
Chatsworth, California

The Dry Years
Your article “The Dry Years” was very informative. Much of it I already knew because I have lived in California all my life, and I understand from where our water originates. Still, it is good to have current numbers to go with the facts. There is a great deal of misinformation being circulated along with a deep pessimism. The good news is that we will develop the needed water resources. The bad news is that they will cost more. Time to get over it. Demand our leaders take action and move forward.
Charles Donaldson ’64
Sacramento, California